The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-09-30
AN OCEAN RACE.


that time our vessel was comparatively now,
having only been in commission about :, year,
and was considerably ahead of anything else
in that trade in the way OF speed. We had n
first rate captain and good crew, whose
personnel was superior to the majority OF
coaster crews; also we were better manned
for our size than most IT those vessels are
and our owners were ibcral in everything
conducive 10 the comfort of the men. The
wellington had the record of the fastest pas
sage from Bermuda and we were all proud
Of our beautiful schoo"ar.
During the winter sundry rumors Were
alloat of n vessel building in Boston for a
rival firm OF produce dealers, OF about our
tonnage, and, AS it was supposed, she was to
b. put on the line at IL opening Of the sen
son of which am writing.
On arriving at New York from our first
trip of the year, we heard that the lnvincible
flor so had her owners named herr had AZ
rived from Boston, been put in commission
and cleared for Bermuda the day previous
She was apparently n beauty and our cap
tain was very anxious to try conclusions
with her, but somehow il seemed a difficult
matter tn get trial, and during the busy
season all rivalry had TO give way to the
pressure of business.
However, patient waiting was at length re-
warded, and, one day after we had finished
unloading and We're awaiting orders, the
skipper came aboard with his weather beaten
face all agow with excitement. "We've got
a chance TO show our mettle Mt last, joe" he
said, as Inc joined me on the deck. Smith q
Co. Jour owners have heard good deal of
Ii ln,, tbat a,I sl,a al
advice about putting up 1000 or $4,000 on
the Wilmington. told them that had not
tried her against the Invincible mt all yet
but, from what / had seen of the latter
thought we could win his money for him.
Anyway we wonld try mighty hard. So he
has taken bet of Browns the Invincible's
owner of $500 for a race from onr pier,
around Bermuda and back, the start to take
place week today"
This was short notice to prepare for a race
with vessel just of the stocks and clean be-
low the water as new pin. Nevertheless,
we set to work with a will, aud that very
evening had her hauled up and gnng of
men cleaning her bottom, the crew. under
my directions seeing to her rigging aud
spars.
Monday was the day fixed for the start,
and on Saturday at noon we tied up at
Smiths pier ready and anxious for Monday
to come.
a good twenty four hours rest after the
exertions of the week prepared the crew for
anything, and on the call for "all hands, in
the morning rs fine aud sailor like looking
lot OF men trod the decl as ever manned a
coaster of our tonnage.
The start was to be ny powder flash from
opposite our pier in the North river at 10
o'clocl, A. M, 80 as to get the ebb tide through
the Narrows BY 9'S9 beth vessels were
standing back and forth across the rivel un
der all their canvas, the breeze being of fair
strength from the south. The lnvincibe was
a beautiful craft 10 look Mt, and had my
doubts rs to our victory flor win we mnsn
being an easy one aD watched the way sno
plowei through the summit waters, although
not being sailed full half the time.
Our skipper stood near the helm. watch in
hand the rest of the crew being at their
posts ready for the beat down the upper bay
and through the Narrows
At precisely thirty seconds before 10 our
captain again measured with his eye our dis
tanco above the line, replaced his watch IN
his pocket and gave orders for the start:
.yStand by TO haul your wind-luf You may,
all sheets fore and aft, and, ms
the helm was put down and sheets hauled in,
the good schooner wellington came up to the
wind in beautiful style and lay over at an
angle that showed she meant business MS she
headed for the line on the starboard tack.
keep her full now" roared the skipper,
another pull on that fore sheet-so, that win
do" and rs Il c.oud of smoke rose from the
end of the pier, showing that time was up,
we dashed over the line ahead of our rival,
who crossed on the port tack several seconds
later Down the upper bay we sped, keep
ing almost tack and tack, through the Mar
rows. past Forts Hamilton and Lafayette and
out into the waters OF the lower bay. Then
breeze from the east brought the wind abeam.
sheets were started, and with the Invincible
a couple of cables lengths astern and to wind
ward, we reached down for Sandy Hook The
buoys inside the Hook were rounded soon
after O'Clock p. m. and we settled down for
a beat out to the lightship. That was rounded
IN duo order, and with fresh breeze blowing
last by north the two schooners were headed,
close haul,,. on the port tack on a southeast
course for Bermuda, and the race had fairly
begun Our position was now about three
quarters of mile to leeward Of the other
craft, which gain she had made in the beat
out to the lightship, we having almost lost the
wind when under the Hook. There was a
rhoppy sea on, the increasing wind crossing
the long Atlantic swell and kicking up CON
of pother, and once clear OF land,
and at the mercy of the "roling forties," the
began 10 get pretty lively. The sky
had become overcast, the clouds seemed to he
getting lower, and the wind increased as il
gradually headed us or, and it began to as
sumo the appearance Of what would now lie
called "cutter weather"
was watching the other vessel through
glass when saw her luff and come up in the
wind. "She's taking in her tops'ls, | shouted,